The Couching Lion

Sharing tea and time in the mountains

As the Camel's Hump Challenge approaches, Sarah, Odin and I took the opportunity to climb the Hump and  check in on winter as it seems this year it won't show its true face in the valleys below.  We decided in the parking lot to hike for the summit and leave the skis behind.  Winter hiking was our first passion before we discovered skis and we are always up for a winter hike to a winter summit. This is where we happened to bump into Max as we left the parking lot and he asked if he might tag along and try for the summit, too, as he had just hoped to snowshoe in the lower birch glades being by himself; so of course we obliged.

There are two things Sarah and I love, the mountains and the people we share them with.  People and the mountains are what brought Sarah and I to Vermont after our Long Trail thru-hike in '01.  The Green Mountains, or any mountains for that matter, hold certain things that keep people coming back and draw new people in and, like I said, has brought us here today. 

So off we went as the snow grew deeper and the snow started to fall. Within two hours we reached the clearing before the last 0.2 miles to the summit. This is often where we have our tea and a quick bite before putting on some extra layers to brave the cold wind on top of the Camel. The more you prepare, the longer you can enjoy your short-lived time on top.  Tea is another thing Sarah and I enjoy sharing with good folks in the mountains and it was great to share it with Max.  I think we also managed to drink the last bit of rum we had in our flask before setting out for the top.

The last 0.2 is always my favorite, especially in the winter, and today was no exception. As you climb the snow-filled chute and climb above tree line, you fully expose yourself to the elements as you  reach the summit - 4,088 feet, atop the camel.  Smiles and a bit of yelling are usually the protocol at the top and as the wind blows and your hand starts to go numb from taking some snapshots you all quickly realize man was not ideally designed to withstand these kind of conditions; even though you're layered to the gills. We all set off for the descent; it was time to go home.

With the descent comes welcome warmth and you start to think just how brilliant of an idea hot tea is in the mountains.  After all Sarah and I always make sure to bring tea for this very purpose.  With tea comes  warmth but more often than not we bring it for the company because you just never know who you might bump into when walking into the mountains.  So the next time you venture into the mountains and bring hot tea, share it with someone - it just might make someone's day and yours as well.

 

 Thanks Max

                                                                          T. and S.
                                                                        
                                                                              and
                   
                                                                            Odin

VT Sports magazine at the Nor'easter

Sarah, Odin and I spent the last four days in Burlington enjoying the sun, music, gear and good folks at the EMS Nor'easter festival.  It was people like Sam Hayden a young climber pictured above that was featured in one of our latest issues and his family that truly made it a wonderful weekend.  It was great to talk with Sam about getting outside and sharing climbing as a family.  This is why Sarah and I find ourselves outside and in the mountains because it is all to often that we encounter others who enjoy just the same as there were many who shared this sentiment during the weekend.  With pedal powered smoothies and a Power tap contest, our booth was full of stories, laughter and good humor as we talked abut the mountains and enjoyed the scenery on beautiful lake Champlain, a great venue for such an event.  We were so busy and tired in fact that we missed out on all the late night music but  found ourselves enjoying the relative serenity at our camp site at beautiful Mt. Philo the last two nights.  In fact I believe we even managed to hear G love and special sauce reverberating off the Adirondacks Saturday night even thought we were twenty minutes south a top Philo. All in all we look forward to more great events where we get to share our love for the outdoors with many others.  Thanks to all  the many new faces from as far away as Texas to Boston, that shared our tent ,we look forward to seeing some of you soon!

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Oh and go figure our own Lea Davison placed second on a muddy and challenging Cross course at North beach. Maybe thats why we put her on the cover of our latest issue.....Huh not to shabby Lea, congrats!

                                                                    Now get outside.

                                                                

                                                                       .

                                    

                                                             Beautful Lake Champlain

Odin taking a nap

                                           The UBC championships will blow your mind.

Sarah blending up a smoothy Cycle Ops style.

Where it ends is often where it all begins.

                                                                                                   

So as I sit home today and listen to the rain drops fall I started thinking.  Do we ever really know?  As Sarah and I are about to make a huge page turn in our lives here in Vermont two things came to mind- our attempted thru hike of the AT in 05 and baseball, yes baseball.  So as I started thumbing through some pictures in my album I stumbled upon a picture that really hit home.  That picture was of me in 05  in a random shelter in MA days before Sarah and I would call our AT thru hike quits.  I can't tell you how many emotions ran through us that day and right now in fact.  You know your done walking but part of you isn't and it can be tough to listen to both voices in your head and make the right decision.   The funny part was our hike ended in VT ironically where it all started. 

       Sarah and I new we wanted to settle in VT years ago even before we completed our thru hike of the Long trail in 2001 solidifying that dream the day we sat atop Stratton Mt. and soaking in our new trail life.  So here we were on our iconic thru hike of the longest, toughest, long distance trail where only the few and strong will actually make it. Well Sarah and I had decided that day atop Stratton Mt. that we were in fact not weak but done with our walk.  I think by the time we reached Vermont we were home.  So many people get to Katahdin and still feel that empty feeling or realize that they still haven't found what there looking for.  Or maybe end up with a better scope of what they truly are looking for and find direction.  Sarah and I just found it here in VT I guess, a little early.  So whats the first thing people ask me five years later in Onion River Sports when they first learn I hiked the AT in 05 and didn't finish? Well it happens to always be-  "Do you regret not finishing?" I think this is where people expect me to hesitate but I don't- "Absolutely not."   Quite honestly I think I was supposed to not finish .  Why?  I don't think I would be writing this right now if we hadn't decided to end our thru hike that beautiful day.  It was that kind of day that after two weeks of rain when your down and out finally that one sunny day keeps you going and makes it all worth it!  In our case it made us realize the opposite; that we were home. To some people it makes sense, most seem surprised  at my optimism and honesty.  I think you really have to experience it your self to understand.  It's funny, sometimes you find home and then sometimes well, home finds you.  

    Oh and as far as baseball that pennant in the shelter in MA was special.  My grandmother waited years to have the Boston Red Sox win a World series and did in fact get to see them win in 2004.  My Grandfather on the other hand didn't but I can tell you what he would say if I could have talked to him before 04 was "Someday you wait and they'll win it, I know it." I myself can tell you that every year someone would ask " Do you really think they can win it this year?" and I would say "Eh.. I don't know." Well my grandfather didn't get to see them win it but there you have it, they did and a second time in 07. One of the best moments in my life was in 2004 when I watched Keith Foulke toss that ground ball up the middle to first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz and you know who the first person I called was?  My grandmother what a night it had been.  So as I write this I guess sometimes you know and well sometimes you don't but that picture brings all these memories back.  That random picture in a random shelter some where in MA where I had no idea where I would be right now writing this in Vermont, my home. 

In 2007  I was given the opportunity of being invited to game one of the World series at Fenway Park against the Colorado Rockies about four hours before the opening pitch.  Not in my wildest dreams did I ever think I would have this opportunity, well turns out I did.  But that's another story.

Well The World Series starts tomorrow and what I do know is the  Red Sox aren't in it. But  who can resist watching a little October baseball even if your favorite team isn't in it! I know I can't.

 Here's to knowing and not knowing at all!

Cheers